Interpretive Handbook

Test
84292 :
Bacterial Culture, Anaerobic

Anaerobic bacteria are the greatest component of the human body's normal bacterial flora colonizing the skin, oral cavity, and genitourinary and lower gastrointestinal tracts. Their presence is important in preserving vitamin and other nutrient absorption and in preventing infection with pathogenic bacteria.

Anaerobes generally are of low pathogenicity but may possess virulence factors such as endotoxin or polysaccharide capsules or produce extracellular toxins. Disease occurs when a large inoculum develops in an area lacking oxygen and/or poor blood supply.

Isolation of anaerobes in significant numbers from well collected specimens including blood, other normally sterile body fluids, or closed collections of purulent fluid indicates infection with that (those) organism(s).

Specimens should be collected by needle and syringe aspiration or surgical drainage to avoid contamination with normal-flora anaerobes; such contamination would make interpretation of culture results impossible.